Thomas



T. B. STOUT. GAR COUPLING:

INo. 11 ,498. Patented Aug. 8, 1854. 1

THOMAS "BI-f STOUQZOELKEYPORE; NE WiJJERSEYi .3 l f n,

. 1 i A -.Gowrnmca specificationaofilLetters PaJtent-No. 1 1 AQSyidatecL. nugget-1.28m 1854;. i;

*and' Improved Oar-Coupling gand do -here:-

by declare that th e follow-ing isa iu'll, cle ar-, andexactdescription --of= the same; reference being had to the annexed drawings,-*making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1, is a side View of ny improved car coupling. Fig. 2, is a top yiew of the same, the top plate-of the bufier rod-being removed. Fig.3, is a top view. of the spring, link and bolt. The lever shown in Fig. 2, is omitted in this view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention of mine is applicable to railroad cars as now constructed, and I make use of the ordinary link, and buffer,

using also the common bolt with the addia tion of a loose ring, forming a hinge for the side play of the bolt to swing on when detaching; and my arrangement does not interfere in the least with the attachment of the horse shaft used in moving the cars at the depot.

I am well aware that a patent was granted W. D. Ohesnut Feby. 20, 1844, in which he claims the use of a spring in connection with a peculiarly formed bar, viz., a three sided recess therein clasping a fixed bolt or pin secured in the buffer, which disengages itself when the cars. are thrown at a considerable angle from each other, by the spring giving way: but this is liable to detachment by the wear of the corner of the eye permitting the bolt or pin to press ofi the holding spring.

The nature of my improvement consists, first, in a device, consisting of a stop aflixed to the floor of the bufier, for holding a swung coupling bolt in connection with a forked jaws, and thus allow ofself detaching. In

addition to this detaching in the event of accident Iby a second device or improvement consisting of a. windlass operating the forked lever embracing the coupling bolt,

am enabledto disconnect at the will of the attendant on the cars :while 'in n otionyeit her ot-= the cars aupon they track, siniply by his turning t-he'windlassby a -crank oroth'erwiserising above-thewplatform otitheficar, andd while in motion. This is an important "conthus with certainty; and safety efi'ect the sideration in the practical: applicationof my improvement and it" has not "hitherto been attainedfi Bye-this" arrangement; tlie= coupling will disconnect itselfif onecar is' thrown-rat certain anglewith theaother, and consequently, it one car is thrown from the track, it cannot drag the others with it; and a brakeman can also disconnect the cars when in mot-ion, if required.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and apply my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A, A, represent the plates at the end of the buffer rod, connected at their outer ends by a curved head, B, having a slot, (at), in it. similar to those in general use, and require no particular description.

On the upper surface of the lower plate, there are two springs, (b), (b), secured to the sides of a ledge, C, see Figs. 2 and 3, by a pin or bolt, shown at (a), in all the drawings. The ends of these springs extend a short distance beyond the end of the ledge, C, and a stump or stop, D, is at the ends of the springs, and a small recess, (d), see Figs. 2, and 3, is formed by the end of the stump, the ends of the springs, and the end of the ledge. In this recess the lower end of .a bolt, E, which passes through a link, F, fits. The upper part of the bolt is sustained in proper position bythe top plate, A, the bolt passing through an aperture in the top plate. The link, F, passes through the slot, (at), in the head, B, as shown in all the drawings. lever and springs, by which the ordinary Gr, Figs. 1, and 2, is a lever secured to the upper surface of the ledge C, by a pivot, (6), see Figs. 1, and 2. One end, (f), of this lever is notched, and fits around the bolt, E. The opposite end, G, has a cord, (h), attached to it, which winds around an upright, H, just back of the ledge, C.

Operation: The bolt, E, is through the link, and the lower end of the bolt fitted in the recess, (OZ), the opposite end of the link being secured to the adjoining car in like manner. The connection between two cars is thus formed. When the These plates are constructed precisely passed I cars aremoving in a direct line, the pressure of the bolts will be upon the ends of the stumps, or stops, D; but if one car is canted, or thrown from the track, the center of the link, F, will bear against one side of the slot, (06-), and the end of the link will bear or pass laterally upon the bolt, and force out one ofthe springs, (72), and the bolt will be out of the recess, (61), and the link free of the bolt, see red dotted lines in Fig. 2, and solid red lines in Fig. 3. The coupling may also be disconnected at will, by the brakeman, by turning the upright, H; this will cause the end, (f), of the lever, G, to act upon the bolt, E, and force out one of the springs, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus the cars may also be disconnected at any time when in motion, and many accidents prevented in cases of cars being disabled or breaking down.

Having described the nature of my improvement over that of W. D. Chesnuts, patented Feby; 20, 1844, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The arrangement of the stop D, springs b, 6, coupling bolt E in connection with the ordinary link F as vdescribed, for the purpose of admitting of self detachment of the cars, by the end of the bolt E being thrown as set forth.

2. I also claim said stop D, springs 79, b,

bolt E, link F in combination with the I forked lever G operated by the Windlass H, in the manner as described, for the purpose of detaching in safety a car or cars at the will of an attendant while the train is in motion.

THOS. B. STOUT.

Witnesses:

S. H. WALES, J N0. W. HAMILTON. 

